JP2001333955A - Massage apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide massage apparatus that provide the same effect as acupressure. SOLUTION: The massage apparatus comprises an operating means 18 that operates a treatment part 15, a human body information detecting means 14 that is installed in contact with the surface of the treatment part in order to detect physiological information, and an operation control means 27 that controls the operating means 18 for the pressure from the human body information detecting means 14 to be not less than the lowest opposite pressure of the human body that can be detected physiological information of the human body. Constant contact of the human body information detecting means 14 with the human body by the operation control means 27 makes it possible to detect change of multiple physiological conditions including muscle elasticity and body surface temperature by massage continuously without deficit as well as appropriate massage matched to the change of physiological conditions of human body is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a massage device which has a treatment element which is movable by a mechanical structure for transmitting pneumatic pressure, power of a motor or the like by a power transmission element such as a gear, and which has the same effect as acupressure. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional massage apparatus of this type has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-134012. As shown in FIG. 8, the device includes a bed 1, a treatment element 2 that is incorporated in the bed 1, and is configured with a roller that can run in the longitudinal direction of the bed 1.
An air cushion 3 provided on the upper part of the treatment element 2, a plurality of air chambers 4 provided in the air cushion 3, and a bed 1
A pressure sensor 5 for detecting a load applied to the treatment element 2 to measure a load distribution of a person sleeping on the airbag 4, and an air chamber 4 of an air cushion 3 located at a predetermined distance from the treatment element 2 based on a signal from the pressure sensor 5. Is selectively controlled by the control means 6. In the massage machine having the above configuration, the massage effect by the treatment element 2 and the pressurized air chamber 4 and the interval between the treatment element 2 and the pressurized air chamber 4 are arbitrarily controlled by the control means 6 based on the signal of the pressure sensor 5. It is possible to obtain a further massage effect by making it possible to adjust to various users having different elongations.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional massage device has the following problems.

[0004] The human body raises skin temperature, increases blood flow, by various massage procedures such as rubbing, rubbing, and pressing.
Physiological changes such as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate occur. The practitioner reads such a change in the physiological state visually or from the sense of the hand, and adjusts the amount of massage. At this time, since the practitioner always touches the body of the practitioner, the practitioner can feel a change in the physiological state such as an increase in skin temperature. on the other hand,
In the massage device, when the treatment element 2 is in close contact with the human body and the pressure sensor 5 can detect the weight applied to the treatment element 2, the position of the treatment element 2 with respect to the user is detected. The interval between the pressurized air chambers 4 can be adjusted. However, when the treatment element 2 does not come into close contact with the human body or the treatment element 2 is separated from the human body, the treatment element 2 and the compressed air The space between the rooms 4 cannot be adjusted. Therefore, when the treatment element 2 is often separated from the human body, it is not possible to perform a massage corresponding to a change in the physiology of the human body. Of course, not only the pressure but also the skin surface temperature and the like cannot be obtained accurately when the treatment element 2 is often separated from the human body.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a treatment element, driving means for driving the treatment element, and detection of physiological information of a human body provided on a body contact surface of the treatment element. And a drive control means for controlling the drive means so that the pressure value from the human body information detecting means is equal to or higher than the minimum counter pressure value of the human body capable of detecting the human body physiological information.

According to the above invention, the drive control means
The pressure value from the human body information detecting means controls the driving means at or above the minimum anti-pressure value of the human body capable of detecting human body physiological information,
That is, since the human body information detecting means is always in contact with the human body, the muscle elasticity of the human body due to massage, body surface temperature, etc.
It is possible to detect time-series changes without loss of various physiological states, and it is possible to perform an optimal massage in accordance with changes in the physiological state of the human body.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A massage device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a treatment element, a driving means for driving the treatment element, and a human body provided on the body contact surface of the treatment element for detecting physiological information of the human body. It is provided with an information detecting means and a drive control means for controlling the driving means so that the human body information detecting means always detects the counter pressure from the human body.

According to the above invention, the drive control means
The pressure value from the human body information detecting means controls the driving means at or above the minimum anti-pressure value of the human body capable of detecting human body physiological information,
That is, since the human body information detecting means is always in contact with the human body, the muscle elasticity of the human body due to massage, body surface temperature, etc.
It is possible to detect time-series changes without loss of various physiological states, and it is possible to perform an optimal massage in accordance with changes in the physiological state of the human body.

A massage device according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the drive control means has a time limit device for setting a time during which the human body information detecting means continues to detect the counter pressure from the human body.

[0010] According to the above invention, the human body information detecting means continues to detect the counter pressure from the human body for a set time which can be sufficiently detected by the human body information detecting means in accordance with the type of the biological information using the timed device. Since the child is in contact with the human body, it is not necessary for the treatment element to constantly contact the human body, and the degree of freedom of the operation of the treatment element can be increased.

A massage device according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the drive control means has a time interval setting device in which the human body information detecting means detects the counter pressure from the human body at predetermined time intervals. is there.

According to the above invention, by using the time interval setting device, the measurement time can be shortened and the biological information having a slow fluctuation, such as the human skin surface temperature, can be obtained.
Since it is not necessary for the human body information detecting means to always detect the biological information and only to detect the biological information for a short time at predetermined time intervals,
The time during which the treatment element contacts the human body is reduced, and the degree of freedom of the operation of the treatment element can be increased.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a massage device, wherein the drive control means has an arithmetic and control unit for controlling the drive means based on a representative value obtained by calculating a plurality of pieces of human body information obtained from the human body information detection means. It is characterized by things.

According to the above invention, by using the arithmetic and control unit, biological information such as heart rate variability and the like can easily be varied due to vibration and the like, and the state of the living body is difficult to determine with instantaneous information.
By analyzing a plurality of predetermined amounts of data and seeing the value of the analysis result, that is, the representative value, it is possible to determine the state of the living body, and it is possible to perform massage with a highly accurate physiological state.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a massage device wherein the drive control means calculates the tendency of the human body information stored at predetermined time intervals from the human body information detection means, In a different case, a drive output varying device for changing the output value of the drive means is provided.

According to the above invention, by using the drive output variable device, continuous biological information can be obtained from the human body information detecting means, and the tendency of the biological information at predetermined time intervals is different, that is, the muscle elasticity tends to be high. It is determined that the tendency is different between a certain part and a part where the muscular elasticity tends to be low, and the output of the driving means can be changed accordingly, so that a massage corresponding to a change in the human body can be performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the massage device, wherein the drive control means calculates the tendency of the human body information stored at predetermined time intervals from the human body information detection means, In a different case, a driving stop device for stopping the driving means is provided.

According to the above invention, the drive stopping device provides
Continuous biological information is obtained from the human body information detecting means, and the tendency of the biological information at each predetermined time interval is different, that is, if the tendency is different between a part where muscle elasticity tends to be high and a part where muscle elasticity tends to be low. By stopping the driving means when it is determined, there is no danger of rubbing the painful part, and a comfortable and safe massage can be performed.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of use of a massage device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the massage device, FIGS. Fig. 6 is an overall system diagram of the massage device, and Fig. 6 is an operation status diagram of Fig. 5.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a human body, and a human body back portion 8 is brought into contact with a housing 9 which is the exterior of the massage device, and sleeps on a floor 10. FIG. 2 shows a front view of the massage device, that is, a contact surface of the housing 9 with the human body rear portion 8.
The housing 9 is formed of a resin such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (commonly called ABS resin) or polypropylene (commonly called PP) having an antibacterial material. A hole 12 having a substantially triangular shape is arranged symmetrically about the center line 11 of the housing 9 in the housing 9.

A treatment element 15 having a human body information detecting means 14 covered with an elastic material 13 at the tip thereof is attached to the hole 12.
Are arranged to be able to move in and out. Human body information detecting means 1
4 is a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a sound sensor, or an electrocardiographic sensor which is located on both sides of the heart, that is, an electrocardiographic sensor comprising electrodes provided at the tips of two treatment elements, and a composite sensor such as a pressure / temperature sensor. In this embodiment, the human body information detecting means 14 is a pressure sensor. The elastic member 13 is made of, for example, a urethane resin having a film of a vinyl chloride resin having an antibacterial material. Treatment child 15
Is an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (commonly called ABS resin) or polyacetal (commonly called PO)
M), a resin material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Further, the human body contact surface of the housing 9 is formed so as to substantially conform to the shape of the human back or waist body surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the housing 9 is provided with a case 17 for guiding the movement of the treatment element 15 due to the expansion and contraction of the air cell 16. The air cell 16 is made of a resin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) or a rubber-based resin (E
VA or an elastomer). The driving means 18 is composed of an air cell 16, a pressurizing / depressurizing means 21 comprising an air pump 19 and a switching valve 20. The air cell 16 expands and contracts by driving, supplying and discharging, and drives the treatment element 15. The switching valve 20 is an electromagnetic valve having an inflow port 23 through which pressurized air flows, a blower port 24 through which the flow of pressurized air flows into the air cell 16, and a discharge port 25 through which air remaining in the air cell 16 is discharged. The switching valve 20 is provided with a time adjusting means 26 which is a timer for controlling the time for pressurizing the air from the air pump 19 into the air cell 16, that is, the time for opening the air outlet 24. Further, the drive control unit 27 controls the drive unit 18 based on a signal from the human body information detection unit 14. By the way, in the present embodiment, the driving means 18 has a mechanical configuration using pneumatic pressure using the air cell 16, but it is also possible to use a mechanical configuration in which the power of a motor or the like is transmitted by a power transmission element such as a gear.

The distal end of the air cell 16 as a driving member is screwed to the treatment element 15, and the fixed end 28 of the air cell 16 is also screwed to the case 17.

When the air pump 19 and the switching valve 20 are operated and the air cell 16 and the treatment element 15 expand and contract, the inner diameter of the treatment element 15 and the air cell 16 are adjusted so that the air cell 16 and the treatment element 15 do not slide. There is a sufficient gap between the outer diameter and the outer diameter.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In contrast, one switching valve 20 is provided, and a valve activation device 29 which is a timer for sequentially activating the switching valves 20 is provided in each switching valve 20.

FIG. 5 shows the details of the drive control means 27. The drive control unit 27 includes a memory 28 that stores information on the human body, in this embodiment, the pressure of the human body, an average value calculation unit 29 that calculates an average value of the human body pressure at any time stored in the memory 28, A pressing force setting memory 30 which stores several stages of optimum pressing force for the reaction pressure of the human body, that is, a muscular elastic force, which varies depending on the constitution and daily living condition, and an optimum value for the value of the average value calculating means 29 in advance. A pressure is selected from a pressure setting memory 30 and an arithmetic and control unit 32 including a pressure judging device 31 for controlling the driving means 18 so as to obtain the pressure, and a human body capable of sufficiently detecting muscle elasticity of the human body. A minimum pressure storage device 33 which is a memory for setting and storing the minimum counter pressure value, and a latest pressure value stored in the memory 28 at any time and a pressure value set in the minimum pressure storage device 33. A minimum pressure determination device 34 for controlling the driving means 18 so that the latest pressure value stored as needed in the memory 28 is equal to or higher than the pressure value set in the minimum pressure storage device 33; The timer comprises a timer 35 for operating the minimum pressure judging device 34 for an arbitrarily set time, and a time interval setting device 36 for activating the timer at an arbitrarily set time interval.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation state of FIG.

When the massage device is activated, the timed device 3
The count of 5 starts. Until the count time T1 reaches the arbitrarily set time A, the pressure judging device 31 and the minimum pressure judging device 34 are operated. The memory 28 stores the pressure value X from the human body from the human body information detecting means 14 as needed. The average value calculating means 29 calculates an average value M of the pressure values X at predetermined intervals. Then, the pressure determination device 31 stores the pressure setting memory 3
The set pressure value C set at 0 and the average value M are compared, and M>
In the case of C, the driving means 18 is not activated, but M
When ≤C, the driving means 18 is activated, and the operation is continued until M> C. Also, the minimum pressure judging device 34
Compares the pressure value X of the memory 28 and the value D of the lowest pressure storage device 33 as needed, and does not activate the driving means 18 when X> D, but when X ≦ D, the driving means 18
Is started, and the operation is continued until X> D. Next, when the count time T1 of the time limit device 35 reaches the arbitrary set time A, the operations of the pressure determination device 31 and the minimum pressure determination device 34 are terminated, and the time interval setting device 36 is activated.
The time is counted until the count time T2 of the time interval setting device 36 becomes T2 = B with respect to the arbitrary set time interval B, and when the time becomes T2 = B, the timer 35 is counted again.

Next, the operation and operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the user puts his back on the housing 9 and sleeps. Then, when the air pump 19 and the valve activation device 29 are activated, the air pump 19 and the switching valve 20 are activated, and the internal pressure of each air cell 16 is adjusted according to the massage menu, and each treatment element 15 is moved to the back of the human body. 8 is operated to acupressure.

More specifically, when the valve actuating device 29 activates one switching valve 20, while the switching valve 20 is activated, the air vent 24 is opened and the tube is inserted into the two air cells 16 for an arbitrary time t1. Air is sent through 22.
Then, when the valve activation device 29 activates the next switching valve 20, the arbitrary time t is similarly stored in the next two air cells 16.
Send only one air. However, the switching valve 20 is the valve actuating device 2
9 is stopped, the air outlet 24 is closed,
The discharge port 25 is opened, and the air in the air cell 17 is discharged. When the drive means 18 is activated and the drive control means 27 is activated at the same time as described above, the pressure determination device 31 uses the pressure setting memory 30 based on the pressure value of the human body of the average value calculation means 29, that is, the muscular elasticity, to thereby determine the optimum load. The pressure value is selected, and the driving means 18 is controlled so as to obtain the optimum pressing force. Further, since the continuous pressure value of the human body is sent to the memory 28 by the minimum pressure judging device 34, an accurate and optimum pressure value is selected from the pressure setting memory 30. Then, for each time interval B set by the time interval setting device 36,
The pushing by the treatment element 15 by the optimal pressure is performed during the time A set by the time limiter 35. However, the time limiter 35
After the time A set in the above is completed, and during the time interval B set by the time interval setting device 36, various treatments are performed with the optimum pressing force value selected in the pressurization setting memory 30.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram of the drive control means 27. The time limit device 35 and the time interval setting device 36 are the same as those in FIG. The drive control means 27 includes a human body information storage means 37 which is a memory for storing information on the human body, in this embodiment, the pressure of the human body, and a pressure and time regression from a plurality of data stored in the human body information storage means 37 at predetermined time intervals. A slope calculating means for setting an equation and calculating the slope of the equation;
Storage device A that stores the result calculated in the time series
39, a calculating device 41 including a tilt storage device B40
And compares the inclination value in the inclination storage device A39 with the inclination value in the inclination storage device B40.
9 is larger than the inclination value of the inclination storage device B40, the output value of the driving means 18, that is, the pressing force on the human body is weakened, and the inclination value of the inclination storage device A39 is decreased.
Is smaller than the inclination value, the output value of the driving means 18, that is, the drive output variable device 42 for increasing the pressing force on the human body, the inclination value in the inclination storage device A39, and the inclination storage device B40
And a drive stop device 43 for stopping the drive means 18 when the values are different, and a timer for operating the drive output variable device 42 and the drive stop device 43 for an arbitrarily set time. It comprises a time limit device 35 and a time interval setting device 36 which is a timer for activating the time limit device 35 at every arbitrarily set time interval.
By the way, the result calculated by the inclination calculating means 38 is first stored in the inclination storage device A39, and the result is stored in the inclination storage device B40.
The cycle in which the value of the inclination storage device A39 is stored in is executed every time the inclination calculating means 38 calculates.

Next, the operation and operation will be described. The drive unit 18 is activated and the drive control unit 27 is activated at the same time.
The time limiter 35 switches the changeover switch 44 to the drive stop device 4.
3 is switched to control the time period device 3 for each time interval B set by the time interval setting device 36.
When the human body moves or the treatment element 15 moves during the time A during which the object 5 is operating, and the treatment element 15 starts pushing from a place where the muscular elasticity of the human body is low to a place where the muscle elasticity of the human body is low, the calculating device 41 performs Is calculated, and the inclination before the movement is stored in the inclination storage device B40, and the inclination after the movement is stored in the inclination storage device A39. In the case of the present embodiment, the value of the inclination storage device B40 is smaller than the value of the inclination storage device A39. In the drive stopping device 43, the tilt storage device B
Since it is determined that the value of 40 and the value of the inclination storage device A39 are different, the driving means 18 is stopped. Similarly, in a state where the changeover switch 44 is switched so that the timed device 35 controls the drive output variable device 42, the massage device is activated and the timed device 35 operates at each time interval B set by the time interval setting device 36. During the time A during which the human body moves or the treatment element 15 moves, and the treatment element 15 starts pushing from a place where the muscle elasticity of the human body is low to a place where the muscle elasticity is low,
In the calculating device 41, a regression formula and a slope of the muscle elasticity before and after the movement are calculated, and the slope before the movement is calculated by the slope storage device B40.
Next, the tilt after the movement is stored in the tilt storage device A39.
In the case of the present embodiment, the value of the inclination storage device B40 is smaller than the value of the inclination storage device A39. Drive output variable device 42
, The value of the inclination storage device B40 is
Since it is determined to be smaller than the value of 39, the output value of the driving means 18 is reduced.

[0035]

As is clear from the above description, the following effects can be obtained according to the massage device of the present invention.

(1) Since the human body information detecting means is always in contact with the human body, it is possible to detect time-series changes without loss of various physiological conditions such as muscle elasticity of the human body and body surface temperature due to massage. It is possible to perform the optimal massage according to the change of the physiological condition of the human body.

(2) The human body information detecting means continues to detect the counter pressure from the human body for a set time which can be sufficiently detected by the human body information detecting means in accordance with the type of the biological information. This eliminates the need for the treatment element to keep in contact with the human body at all times, and achieves a higher degree of freedom in the operation of the treatment element.

(3) For biological information that can be reduced in measurement time and changes slowly, such as human skin surface temperature, it is not necessary for the human body information detecting means to always detect biological information, and the predetermined time Since it is only necessary to detect biological information for a short time at intervals, the treatment element has less contact time with the human body, and the degree of freedom of operation of the treatment element can be increased.

(4) For biological information, such as heart rate variability, in which the state of the living body is difficult to determine based on instantaneous information that is likely to fluctuate due to vibration or the like, a plurality of predetermined amounts of data are analyzed, and the value of the analysis result, that is, a representative value Thus, the state of the living body can be determined by looking at the body, and it is possible to perform massage with a high degree of accuracy in a physiological state.

(5) Continuous biological information is obtained from the human body information detecting means, and the tendency of the biological information differs at predetermined time intervals, that is, a part where the muscle elasticity tends to be high and a part where the muscle elasticity tends to be low. And that the output of the driving means can be changed in accordance with the judgment, so that it is possible to perform a massage corresponding to a change in the human body.

(6) Continuous biological information is obtained from the human body information detecting means, and the tendency of the biological information differs at predetermined time intervals, that is, a part where muscle elasticity tends to be high and a part where muscle elasticity tends to be low. If it is determined that the tendency is different, the driving means is stopped, so that there is no danger of rubbing a painful part, and a comfortable and safe massage is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of use of a massage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the massage device.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the massage device.

FIG. 4 is an overall system diagram of the massage device.

FIG. 5 is a partial block diagram of the massage device.

FIG. 6 is an operation status diagram of a drive control unit of the massage device.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of a massage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional massage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Human body information detecting means 15 Treatment element 18 Driving means 27 Driving control means 32 Arithmetic control device 35 Time limit device 36 Time interval setting device 38 Calculation device 42 Variable driving output device 43 Driving stop device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Shirai 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Oka 1006 Kazuma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A medical treatment element; a driving means for driving the medical treatment element; a human body information detecting means provided on a body contact surface of the medical treatment element for detecting physiological information of a human body; A driving control unit for controlling the driving unit such that the pressure value is equal to or higher than a minimum reaction pressure value of a human body capable of detecting human physiological information. 2. The massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive control means includes a time limiter for setting a time during which the human body information detecting means continues to detect the counter pressure from the human body. 3. The massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive control means includes a time interval setting device in which the human body information detecting means detects a counter pressure from the human body at predetermined time intervals. 4. The drive control unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive control unit includes an arithmetic control unit that controls the drive unit based on a representative value obtained by calculating a plurality of pieces of human body information obtained from the human body information detection unit. The massage device according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. A drive control means for calculating the tendency of the human body information stored at predetermined time intervals from the human body information detection means, and changing an output value of the drive means when the tendency at each predetermined time is different. The massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a drive output variable device. 6. A drive control means for calculating a tendency of human body information stored at predetermined time intervals from a human body information detection means, and a drive stop device for stopping the drive means when the tendency at each predetermined time is different. The massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the massage device has: